KUALA LUMPUR – The breezy conditions inside the Axiata Arena where the Petronas Malaysia Open is being hosted has reduced, according to world number one Viktor Axelsen.
Speaking to the media after his win today in the second round against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, Axelsen said the draft inside the arena has improved.
“It definitely wasn’t as crazy as it was on Tuesday during the first round. Although there is still some (draft).
“You just have to control it to the best you can, and I felt that I controlled it well in the third set,” he said.
Axelsen defeated Lee 15-21, 21-6, 21-13 today to progress into the quarter-finals tomorrow, where he will play Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.
“Lee played a good game today as he controlled the drift well. He’s a tough player especially in windy conditions.
“I could not control the drift as well as him. But I came back better in the third set after making too many unforced errors in the beginning,” he added.
Yesterday, top national shuttler Lee Zii Jia said the conditions in the arena were vastly different to how it was a few years ago when he last played here.
Earlier today, Zii Jia failed to enter tomorrow’s quarter-finals after losing to Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-19, 19-21, 21-16.
On the first day of the tournament, Axelsen spoke about the gusty conditions in the arena, stating that it was the biggest drift he had ever experienced in his career. – The Vibes, June 30, 2022
